FURIOUS Ally McCoist branded the decision to send off Robin Propper in the first half against Athletic Bilbao as “absolute nonsense”

Rangers were reduced to 10 men after just 13 minutes the Dutch centre-back brought down Inaki Williams on the edge of the box.

The Light Blues have continuously shown they’re no pushovers in Europe but even with 11 players on the pitch it was always going to be a tough ask against the high-flying La Liga side.

But many fans would’ve feared the quarter-final tie was over already after Propper’s dismissal, despite the game still being goalless.

The Dutchman was initially shown a yellow card before it was upgraded to a red following a VAR check.

It was deemed the 31-year-old had denied a goal-scoring opportunity given he was the last line of defence and Williams would’ve had a clean strike on goal.

McCoist, 62, did confess at the time that the Romanian officials had reached the correct decision ‘by the letter of the law‘

But the Light Blues legend believes there should’ve been ‘common sense’ applied to allow Propper to stay on the pitch with a more lenient verdict.

Reacting to the decision live on TNT Sports, McCoist said: “Well, by the letter of the law, it’s probably the correct decision.

“But you ask anybody that’s played the game at any level whatsoever ‘should that be a red card?’ and the answer, emphatically, will be no.

“I actually think it’s a lack of common sense by the officials. They’ll say they’re going by the laws of the game… By that interpretation, he’s made the correct decision.

“But common sense there, it’s wrong.

“Here’s my question to you: if that’s in the box, he doesn’t get sent off, correct? So how daft is that?

“You’ve effectively got two different laws. Nonsense, absolute nonsense!”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page